Partners and registered partnerships (pareja de hecho)Article 5 of 7 · 2 min read
Which marriages Spain recognises for immigration
A short guide to checking whether your marriage will count for a Spanish family immigration route. It is for anyone married in a religious, customary, proxy, foreign or underage ceremony, or in a polygamous union.
Key rules
- Foreign marriages: A marriage that was valid where it took place can count for a family route.
- Polygamy and minors: Polygamous and underage unions do not count for family routes.
- Registration: Some foreign marriages must be registered in the Spanish Registro Civil before they count.
Rules for religious, customary and proxy marriages and for registration vary by case, so confirm with the immigration office or a Spanish consulate before applying.
The short answer
Spain recognises valid foreign marriages for family routes. It does not recognise polygamous or underage unions for these routes. Some foreign marriages must also be registered before they count.
Whether your own marriage counts depends on the details of your case. Use the steps below to check it before you apply.
Foreign marriages
A marriage celebrated abroad can count if it was valid where it took place. You will normally need an official marriage certificate from that country. Ask for it to be legalised or apostilled, and translated into Spanish, if the office asks for that.
Polygamous marriages
A polygamous union does not count for a family route. If your spouse has other spouses, check with an immigration lawyer or the immigration office (Oficina de Extranjería) before you apply. Do this before you submit anything.
Underage marriages
A marriage involving a minor does not count for a family route. If either spouse was a minor when you married, get advice before applying.
Religious, customary and proxy marriages
Check these with the immigration office before you apply. A religious or customary ceremony, or a marriage by proxy (where someone signs for you with a power of attorney, a poder), may need extra proof. Ask what proof the office wants. Usually this means a civil record from the country where you married.
Registration
Some foreign marriages must be entered in the Spanish Registro Civil before they count. Ask the office handling your application whether yours must be. Also ask your nearest Spanish consulate or the Registro Civil, because the answer can depend on your case.
What to do next
- Get your marriage certificate and check that it comes from a civil authority.
- Ask the immigration office whether your type of marriage counts and whether it needs registering.
- Register the marriage first if you are told to, then apply.
More in Partners and registered partnerships (pareja de hecho)
- Marry or register a partnership (pareja de hecho): which gives status
- Registering a partnership (pareja de hecho) and what it unlocks
- How partnership (pareja de hecho) rules differ by region
- Spouse, registered partner or unregistered partner: how each is treated
- Does Spain recognise a same-sex marriage or partnership formed abroad
- How authorities test whether a marriage or partnership is real
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